Ondokuz Mayıs University (OMU) Faculty of Pharmacy held its 2nd White Coat Ceremony with great excitement and pride. The event symbolized the first steps of first-year pharmacy students into their professional journey, with white coats being presented by academic and administrative protocol members.
The ceremony was attended by OMU Vice Rector Prof. Dr. Ayşe Pınar Sumer, President of the 6th Region Samsun Chamber of Pharmacists Pharm. Onur Ferhat Karacan, Dean of the Faculty of Pharmacy, Prof. Dr. Yavuz Kürşad Daş, Dean of the Faculty of Architecture, Prof. Dr. Mehmet Çetin, Vice Dean of the Faculty of Pharmacy, Prof. Dr. Sezin Yücelik, chief physicians, head pharmacists, pharmacy representatives from various hospitals, and executives from the Istanbul Pharmacists' Cooperative. Faculty members, students, and their families were also present.
In his address, Dean Prof. Dr. Yavuz Kürşad Daş emphasized the rapid development of the young faculty, saying:
“Our faculty was established in 2019 and admitted its first students in the 2023–2024 academic year. Despite being a very young institution, we have made significant progress quickly. In our first year, we ranked among the top 18 most preferred faculties out of 35 pharmacy faculties affiliated with public universities, and this year we rose to 16th place. This success belongs to our students and their supportive families and our academic and administrative staff, who work with great dedication.”
Sharing information about the academic structure of the faculty, he added:
“We have three departments and 14 divisions. Currently, four professors, one associate professor, four assistant professors, and four research assistants—making up a total of 13 academic staff—are providing education to 91 students.”
Dean Daş highlighted the symbolic meaning of the white coats worn by the students:
“Today’s white coats are more than just garments; they represent professional commitment, ethical responsibility, and dedication to science. While they may become physically soiled, they must never be tainted in a moral sense. Our aim is not only to equip our students with academic knowledge but also to instill strong professional ethics and moral values.”
Addressing the families in the final part of his speech, Daş said:
“We are doing our utmost to ensure our students graduate as competent, ethically grounded pharmacists. Our greatest goal is to educate well-qualified professionals. I extend my thanks to all academic and administrative personnel, the OMU Rectorate, and the Istanbul Pharmacists' Cooperative for making this ceremony possible.”
President of the 6th Region Samsun Chamber of Pharmacists, Pharm. Onur Ferhat Karacan, emphasized the significance of May 14, Pharmacy Day in Türkiye:
“Today, you’re not just putting on a coat—you’re shouldering a great responsibility. Tomorrow is May 14, Pharmacy Day, which marks the founding of the first pharmacy class in 1839. Holding this ceremony on the eve of such a meaningful day adds even more significance. As of today, you are one of us. You are now part of this profession and a fellow traveler on our shared path.”
Karacan also commented on the success of OMU’s Faculty of Pharmacy:
“As the Dean mentioned, despite being such a young faculty, it placed 18th among 70 faculties in its first year, and this year climbed to 16th. We are looking at a team that has created something from scratch and turned challenges into opportunities. I thank all the academics and administrators behind this achievement.”
Following the speeches, protocol members presented white coats to first-year students. The students proudly donned their coats, marking the beginning of their journey in the pharmacy profession with excitement and joy. The ceremony concluded with a group photo session.
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